Tag Archives: 2016 Olympic Games

Nazario Releases Video for “Soy Tuya,” Dedicated to Her Native Puerto Rico

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Ednita Nazario is celebrating La Isla del Encanto…

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has released her new single “Soy Tuya,” which she dedicated to Puerto Rico’s baseball team.

Ednita Nazario

Nazario premiered the song in her social media, along with an emotive lyric video.

The clip shows the beautiful island scenery and great achievements of different personalities like Zuleyka Rivera winning the Miss Universe crown, boxer Tito Trinidad, tennis player Monica Puig winning the gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games and, of course, the Puerto Rico baseball team during the World Baseball Classic 2017.

“Seeing my country, Puerto Rico, united is the greatest joy that I can feel, she wrote, adding: “Thank you for giving the best of you and we will continue to do the same: give ourselves in body and soul to a productive and positive life for ours and for everyone.”

This year, Puerto Rico’s team made its presence felt after reaching the finals without losing a game and uniting an entire country. They also generated a polemic movement: all the players decided during the series to dye their hair blond, immediately going viral. From young people to singers like Victor Manuelle, Ken-Y and Wisin (with a wig) also joined the movement and went blond.

Anthony Named to USA Basketball’s Team for 2016 Olympic Games

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It’s official… Carmelo Anthony is headed to his fourth Olympics.

USA Basketball‘s 12-man roster has been announced for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, with the 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican basketball star making the grade.

Carmelo Anthony

While a few of the game’s best won’t be in action this summer, plenty of superstar talent will make the trip in head coach Mike Krzyzewski‘s push for a third and final Olympic gold medal.

The New York Knicks star is the only Latino player named to the team.

Here’s a look at the players who will be donning the red, white and blue.

Carmelo Anthony
Team: New York Knicks
Position: Forward
Age: 32
Olympics appearance: 4th
Team USA experience: Olympics (2012-Gold, 2008-Gold, 2004-Bronze); FIBA World Championship (2006-Bronze), FIBA Americas (2007-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014.

Kevin Durant
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Forward
Age: 27
Olympics appearance: 2nd
Team USA experience: Olympics (2012-Gold), FIBA World Championship (2010-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014.

Paul George
Team: Indiana Pacers
Position: Forward
Age: 26
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014 (injured leg during scrimmage ahead of 2014 FIBA World Cup)

Draymond Green
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Forward
Age: 26
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball National Team on Aug. 6, 2015.

Klay Thompson
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Guard
Age: 26
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: FIBA World Cup (2014-Gold); FIBA U19 World Championship (2009-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014.

Kyrie Irving
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Guard
Age: 24
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: FIBA World Cup (2014-Gold); FIBA Americas U18 Championship (2010-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014.

Jimmy Butler
Team: Chicago Bulls
Position: Guard
Age: 26
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball National Team on Aug. 6, 2015.

DeMarcus Cousins
Team: Sacramento Kings
Position: Center
Age: 25
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: FIBA World Cup (2014-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on Jan. 23, 2014.

DeAndre Jordan
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Center
Age: 27
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: FIBA U19 World Championship (2007-Silver); Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball National Team on Aug. 6, 2015.

Kyle Lowry
Team: Toronto Raptors
Position: Guard
Age: 30
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: None

DeMar DeRozan
Team: Toronto Raptors
Position: Guard
Age: 26
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: FIBA World Cup (2014-Gold); Named a member of the 2014-16 USA Men’s National Team on July 14, 2014.

Harrison Barnes
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Forward
Age: 24
Olympics appearance: 1st
Team USA experience: Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball National Team on Aug. 6, 2015.

Culson Wins 400-Meter Hurdles at IAAF Diamond League Stop in Stockholm

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Javier Culson is revving his engines for the 2016 Olympic Games…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican athlete and Olympic bronze medalist came in first in the 400-meter hurdles at the IAAF Diamond League event on Thursday in Stockholm, Sweden.

Javier Culson

Culson, who ran for the fifth lane, finished ahead of Kerron Clement of the U.S. with a time of 49.43.

With the victory, Culson earns 16 points in the Diamond League standings and ascends to second place.

Culson previously recorded a 48.99 second time at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, one of the stops of the Diamond League, held on June 9. The time represents his best performance so far this year.

Culson competed at the 2012 Olympics in London winning the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles race, giving Puerto Rico its first-ever non-boxing Olympic medal.

Gasol Named EuroBasket MVP After Leading Spain to the Gold

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Pau Gasol has propelled Spain into the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro…

The 35-year-old Spanish basketball star had a double-double as Spain cruised past Lithuania 80-63 on Sunday to take the EuroBasket title.

Pau Gasol

Gasol, the European Basketball Championship MVP, helped Spain earn its third title in the last four tournaments after having to settle for bronze two years ago.

“It was an incredible championship,” Gasol said. “We went through struggles early on but the team responded well, and with our backs to the wall, we understood that we had to play better defense.”

With Spain’s King Felipe VI and tennis star Rafael Nadal in the stands, the final was a one-sided affair as the Spaniards opened a 13-point lead in the first quarter and were never really threatened.

Gasol finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots, one steal and no turnovers to earn the tournament’s MVP award.

Pau Gasol

“It’s of special significance to play this well at this stage of my career after all I’ve accomplished,” said Gasol, the Chicago Bulls center who has two NBA championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers. “It is something I will remember until the end of my life.

The victory completed a turnaround for Spain, which came to the tournament without Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio and lost two of its first three games.

But with Gasol dominating, Spain raised its game when it mattered and looked impressive throughout the knockout stage. Gasol put his stamp on the final early, scoring eight straight points for Spain to lead 19-6.

That helped the team overcome the loss of influential guard Rudy Fernandez halfway into the third quarter when he was fouled by Robertas Javtokas. Fernandez fell to the ground, was helped off the floor while holding his left hip and did not return.

Spain and Lithuania booked direct slots to next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Spain won the silver medal in the past two Olympics, and Gasol said he would be around once again if his body holds up.

Spain guard Sergio Rodriguez joined Gasol in the tournament’s all-star team.

Lochte In Talks to Star in Reality Show on E!

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Ryan Lochte could soon be getting real on national television…

The 28-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer has confirmed that he’s currently in talks with E! to star in his own reality television series.

Ryan Lochte

But that’s not all… He’s planning to launch his own fashion line, an entrepreneurial experience he’d most likely share on screen with viewers.

“Pretty much, they follow me on my normal day, just training, doing my own fashion line… It’s gonna be me, me being myself,” said Lochte, who will be guest-starring on the CW’s 90210 this season. “And I’m pretty much going to show the world that and my new fashion line.”

There’s no word on where in the negotiation stage Lochte, a five-time medalist at this year’s London Games, is with E!

And the Lochtenator, as he’s lovingly called, is reportedly mulling offers to star on other reality shows, including The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars.

One thing is certain… Lochte has set his sights on Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Falcão Claims Men’s Boxing Silver at the London Games

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London Olympics 2012

Esquiva Falcão Florentino came thisclose to making history at the 2012 Olympic Games…

The 22-year-old Brazilian fighter lost an oh-so-close bout to Japan’s Ryota Murata in the final of the men’s middleweight contest at the London Games. With the win, Murata denied Brazil its first Olympic boxing gold.

Esquiva Falcao

Falcão appeared to serve notice to the rest of the middleweight division when he destroyed Britain’s Anthony Ogogo in the semifinal.

But Murata, a silver medalist at last year’s world amateur championships, gave the aggressive Falcão a lesson on how to score points in the final, defending expertly and catching the Brazilian each time he came in close to win the bout 14-13.

Murata countered splendidly in the first round to open up a two point lead and even though Falcão cut that down to a single point after the second round with a couple of big lefts, Murata never panicked.

Esquiva Falcao

When Falcão received a warning in the final round his fate was sealed and the Brazilian nodded in agreement as the judges gave the bout to Murata by just a point.

Falcão, who flirted with a life of street crime before his father Touro Moreno, a big name in Brazilian boxing, intervened, remembered his humble roots after achieving his country’s best boxing result.

“I’m very happy. I wanted a lot to achieve this moment. It’s the most important day of my career,” said Falcão, who wants to fight at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.

Esquiva Falcao

“It is very important for my family, I come from a humble family and this is very important for all of them,” said Falcão. “There will be a huge celebration for me when I get back to Brazil.”

Brazil’s only previous boxing medal before the three won in London came in the 1968 Olympic  Games.

Brazil Defends Women’s Volleyball Title at the London Games

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London Olympics 2012

It’s a re-pe-pe-pe-peat for Brazil’s women’s volleyball team the 2012 Olympic Games…

The defending Olympic champions came back from one set down to beat the United States on Saturday and claim the gold medal at the London Games, resulting in a carnival-like atmosphere at Earls Court.

Brazil's Women's Volleyball Team

Jaqueline Carvalho had 18 points to help Brazil overcome that disastrous first set and win 11-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17.

Las brasileñas celebrated by doing cartwheels on the court before dancing onto the podium singing “the champions are back” to go into the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with home field advantage and the title of two-time defending champions.

“That’s what Brazil is all about, about joy and smiling,” said captain Fabiana Claudino, who scored 14 points in the win. “And that’s how we play.”

Brazil's Women's Volleyball Team

Fabiana certainly led by example as she helped settle her teammates’ nerves after starting off with a shaky first set.

“I just told the girls to relax after the first set, to focus on what we do well, which is to spike well, attack well, defend well, all the things that got us here,” said Fabiana.

After leveling the match, Brazil seemed to pass on those early nerves to the American team.

Brazil's Women's Volleyball Team

“There was a lot of anxiety in the first set. We didn’t think about what we did four years ago, we just spoke between ourselves, we are going to do it,” said Sheilla Castro. “To tell you the truth, it was like their faces were staring into nowhere. We put pressure on them and they felt it.”

Brazil started to pull away in the fourth set, as they fed off the roaring crowd of 15,000 fans to prevent the U.S. from breaking into the gold medal club. Only Brazil, China, Japan, Cuba and Russia have won women’s volleyball gold.

Brazil's Women's Volleyball Team

Brazil became the third team to repeat as gold medalists. The Soviet Union won in 1968 and 1972, while Cuba won three straight starting with the 1992 Barcelona Games. Brazil also won bronze in 1996 and 2000.

“This was such an important victory for Brazil with the Olympics in our home next,” said Carvalho.

Lochte to Appear on a Reality TV Show?

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Now that he’s set his sights on competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, is Ryan Lochte preparing to learn the samba in front of a national audience?

Ryan Lochte

The 28-year-old half-Cuban American swimmer, who picked up five medals at the2012 Olympic Games, appeared on Good Morning America this week and was asked if he’d rather appear on ABC’s The Bachelor or Dancing With the Stars?

Lochte’s pick: ballroom or babes!

“It’s a competition, and I have that competitive edge in me,” explained Lochte, who plans to move to Los Angeles now that the Olympics have come and gone.

Teammate Michael Phelps has also said he’d be interested in Dancing with the Stars, according to Us Weekly. So maybe they’ll soon get to face-off on the dance floor.

“Ryan would make the perfect next Bachelor. … He has the ‘it’ factor. Especially after his mother’s one-night-stand comment, everyone wants to know who is the real Ryan and what would it be like to date him,” a media expert told HuffPost. “Forget dancing shows — this guy should be doing dating shows, for sure.”

Meanwhile, according to the The Hollywood Reporter, Lochte’s agent says the Olympian has three offers for a reality show on the table.

If he did one, he promised GMA it would be unusual. “It wouldn’t be your normal reality TV show because I’m definitely not your normal guy.”

Today’s Matt Lauer followed up on the reality question on Friday and Lochte replied, “I’m definitely looking towards Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor, so we’ll see what happens. I definitely want to move to L.A. That’s been a big goal of mine, getting into fashion because that is my passion. I definitely want to get into fashion and design my own clothing line.”

Rentería Becomes Colombia’s Most Decorated Female Olympian

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London Olympics 2012

Jackeline Rentería Castillo has a matching set of medals following her performance at the 2012 Olympic Games…

The 26-year-old Colombian wrestler claimed the bronze medal in women’s wrestling on Thursday in the freestyle (55kg) category by defeating Ukraine’s Tatyana Lazareva.

Jackeline Rentería

Rentería, who failed to make it to the event’s final round after losing a tight match to Canada’s Tonya Lynn Verbeek, had to put up a serious fight to beat Lazareva.

When the final buzzer sounded, dozens of her compatriots cheered in the stands while Rentería ‘s coach jumped onto the canvas to embrace her and offer her a Colombian flag, which she proudly wrapped around herself.

Jackeline Rentería

“In the first place, I want to give infinite thanks to God,” said Rentería . “He promised me a long time ago that he was going to give me titles and this year he has given them to me. And here I am, thanks to him, celebrating this medal.”

Rentería could be experiencing a case of déjà vu… She won a bronze medal in the same category at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Jackeline Rentería

By repeating the feat at the London Games, she ties sport shooter Helmut Bellingrodt as the most decorated Colombian Olympians with two medals each.

“It’s a joy for me to be the first woman to do it and I also hope to be the first to get three,” said Rentería. “The road goes on and I’m already looking to Rio de Janeiro [the site of the 2016 Olympic Games].”

Araujo Claims Bronze in Women’s Boxing at the London Games

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London Olympics 2012

The gold medal wasn’t meant to be at the 2012 Olympic Games… But Adriana Araujo is setting her sights on the future and the next stage of her career.

The 30-year-old Brazilian fighter had to settle for a bronze medal after losing to Russia’s Sofya Ochigava on Wednesday in the women’s lightweight boxing semifinal at the London Games.

Adriana Araujo

Araujo started the bout on a strong note by attacking the current world No. 2. The first round ended with the boxers tied.

But Ochigava took the lead in the second round and went on to win, 17-11.

Adriana Araujo

In the end, the Russian boxer—who will go on to face reigning world champ Katie Taylor of Ireland in the final—was quicker on her feet and a more effective puncher than Araujo.

“Bronze is not what I wanted, but I’m leaving happy,” said Araujo after the fight. “The next Olympic games will be in my country,” she added, referring to Rio de Janeiro’s role as host of the 2016 Olympic Games, “but I won’t be there because I’m going professional.”

Araujo joins Marlen Esparza of the United States as only Latina fighters to win a medal in the debut of women’s boxing as an Olympic sport in London.